What Are the Types of Tinnitus?

It is also common for people to experience subjective tinnitus from certain medications. While there are many medications that may list tinnitus as a side effect, it is important to note that not all people who take these medications will experience tinnitus.  The most common ones include:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) - Aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen are over the counter medications often used for pain relief.
• Aminoglycoside antibiotics - Used to treat life-threatening illnesses
• Diuretics - Used in the treatment of hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Chemotherapeutic agents - Used to combat certain types of cancer
• Quinine - Used to treat malaria
• Anti-depressants

The other type of tinnitus is called objective tinnitus, often referred to as pulsatile tinnitus and less frequently as vascular tinnitus. Pulsatile tinnitus is less common that phantom tinnitus and is usually an indication of a medical condition involving blood flow disturbances, especially in the head and neck region. With this type of tinnitus, physicians and other individuals, as well as the individual can hear it and it usually sounds like a whooshing or throbbing.

Common medical conditions that can cause pulsatile tinnitus include:

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Head and neck tumors
• Atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries)
• Twisted arteries in the head and neck area

Less common causes of pulsatile tinnitus include:

• Multiple sclerosis
• Hyperthyroidism
• Iron deficiency

In either case of tinnitus, subjective (phantom) and/or objective (pulsatile/vascular), it is important to report it to and investigate it with the appropriate medical professional, particularly if it is interfering with your daily life. Audiologists can help individuals suffering from subjective tinnitus to classify and quantify the type, while physicians can assist in finding medical conditions that may be causing objective tinnitus.

In the meantime, know that tinnitus is real but manageable, and not unique to any one person. While most people who experience tinnitus have hearing loss, if you do experience it suddenly, it does not mean you will “go deaf” or lose your hearing, or that it will get worse. So if you experience that irritating, annoying noise in your ears, whether it is “buzzing,” “roaring,” “clicking,” “rushing” and “hissing” don’t allow it to control your life. Seek help from the appropriate professional and get a handle on it before it gets a handle on you!